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The world of ancient Romans abounded in a number of amazing curiosities and information. The source of knowledge about the life of the Romans are mainly works left to us by ancient writers or discoveries. The Romans left behind a lot of strange information and facts that are sometimes hard to believe.
The ancient Romans might have been less promiscuous than the Greeks, what does not mean that in the public sphere they did not allow themselves to make sexual comments. For example, in Pompeii, graffiti made on the walls of buildings can still be read today. One of them: “Weep, you girls. My penis has given you up. Now it penetrates men’s behinds. Goodbye, wondrous femininity!”
Bronze statue of a young man. The figure shown is in the middle of a prayer – hence its name “Praying Boy”. The object was found in Rhodes, and is dated to the 3rd century BCE.
Almost every Roman lady dyed her hair. Some have oxidized and lightened, others have darkened. For example, for dark hair, the prescription was taken over from the Egyptians, for whom black color on the head was an expression of beauty. In order to darken the hair, a mixture of lead oxide, slaked lime (calcium hydroxide) and water was used. A paste was thus obtained, which was then rubbed into the head.
What is for us today ketchup or mustard, for the Romans was garum. Garum was an addition necessary in exquisite Roman cuisine.
It appears in most of the recipes preserved in the work “De re coquinaria” of Apicius.
According to Suetonius, Emperor Caligula was supposedly commissioned to build a temporary bridge connecting the banks of the Bay of Naples.
Roman bust of an aristocratic man from Asia Minor. Object is dated back to 3rd cenury CE; located in Cleveland Museum of Art in USA.
After the overthrow the last king of Rome in 509 BCE – Tarquinius Superbus, the first consuls were chosen by Lucius Junius Brutus, leader of the uprising against Tarquinius and Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus, who mourned after the suicidal death of his wife Lucretia, raped by son of Tarquinius Superbus.
Pair of richly decorated Roman greaves. Worn probably by gladiators. Dated to the 1st century CE.
Skeleton of a Roman soldier. Next to the remains there is an iron sword and a dagger, a belt and a leather sporran (bag). Herculaneum.
The Flavian Amphitheater was an amazing construction for ancient times. The engineers took care of every detail to such an extent that they even anticipated the possibility of spreading a special canvas roof that was stretched over the stands on hot days. It was referred to as velum or velarium. The audience could also count on another form of coolness.
